FRANCE 98 – Match Summary n°38
France marched into the second round of the World Cup in style here on Wednesday with another display of scintillating flair football from what was practically a reserve team. Emmanual Petit’s 55th minute strike secured a 2-1 win over Denmark that made the hosts the first country to reach the last 16 with three straight wins in their group matches.
Despite the defeat Denmark also advanced after South Africa failed to take the three points they needed in a 2-2 tie with Saudi Arabia. France’s narrow victory belied the ease with which Aime Jacquet’s side, which featured eight changes from the line-up that started the 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, dominated the Danes.
It was a demonstration of the hosts strength in depth, particularly without the suspended playmaker Zinedine Zidane described by Jacquet as irreplaceable, against their first top-quality opponents that will have dispelled any doubts that they are serious contenders to lift their first World Cup.
” The team was remodelled for very precise circumstances but we still played with a lot of composure and confidence. That makes me very happy and proud, “ Jacquet said. “Denmark are always a tough team to beat. They are very strong technically and tactically. But we were able to keep the ball off them and that meant they were not able to inflict the kind of damage they are capable of. “
Bixente Lizarazu, the first choice French left back who sat out Wednesday’s game, said the performance of the new line-up showed the strength in depth in the French squad. ” We think we can go far in this World Cup. That is why it is important to rotate players. “
France’s win means they escape a tough second round clash with Nigeria, but Lizarazu insisted that made no difference to the buoyant hosts. ” We have no preference about which team we play. All the games will be tough from now on but we think we have the capacity to beat anyone. “
Danish coach Bo Johansson admitted: ” France were by far the better side. We had a few good phases in attack but we were constantly having to work very hard in defence. “ Johansson was unfazed at the prospect of facing Nigeria. ” They will be the favourites and we will be the underdogs but that suits us Danes.” Petit’s winner came ten minutes after the break after the Danish defence had blocked a shot from Robert Pires.
The ball broke free to the Arsenal midfielder on the edge of the area and his low shot somehow managed to thread its way through a forest of legs and past the unsighted Peter Schmeichel in the Danish goal. It was no less than the French deserved, particularly after a first half performance in which they could easily have scored two or three times only to go in level after a Michael Laudrup penalty four minutes from the break.
Laudrup comfortably beat Fabian Barthez from the spot after Vincent Candela had needlessly bundled Martin Jorgensen over at the end of a Danish move that had petered out. The strike cancelled out Youri Djorkaeff’s 13th-minute penalty. Although the French had already assured their place in the second round, the fierce competition for places ensured there was no sign of complacency as they ripped into the Danes from the start.
They could have been ahead after only four minutes. Djorkaeff’s neat backheel released Patrick Vieira inside the box but the Arsenal midfielder’s shot was parried by Peter Schmeichel and Jes Hogh was able to boot the ball to safety.
Candela, brought in at left back in place of Lizarazu, was the architect of France’s opener with a powerful run out of his own half and a precise pass into the box for David Trezeguet. The Monaco forward touched the ball past his marker Hogh and was pulled down by the defender’s late tackle.Schmeichel got a hand to Djorkaeff’s penalty but it was not enough to prevent the powerful shot spinning into the back of the net.
France then turned on the style and they could have added two more goals in the space of two minutes mid-way through the first half. First Vieira blasted over from 16 yards after Bernard Diomede had found him with a precise cutback. Then Pires also failed to hit the target after being picked out on the edge of the box by Candela.
The Danes rallied and Brian Laudrup combined neatly with his brother Michael before drawing a good save from Barthez in the 32nd minute. France reasserted their dominance after the break and four minutes before he scored, Petit produced a delightful chip over the Danish back four for Djorkaeff to volley into the arms of Schmeichel.